In an earlier blog, my colleague, Debra Frimerman reported about the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems.

REAP is a program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy…

Query this:  the California legislature has passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) and Senate Bill 97, making it clear that the impact of a project’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has to analyzed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Your project is one GHG source among literally thousands of sources in California contributing to global climate change.  There is no recognized CEQA threshold of significance for GHG emissions. We’re months away from having new CEQA Guidelines adopted under SB 97, but, in any case, the proposed draft amendments to the CEQA Guidelines do not establish a threshold of significance. And yet, you, as a project developer, need to analyze and reach a definitive (and defensible) conclusion on the cumulative impact of your project on climate change. What do you do? Continue Reading Evaluating Climate Change Impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act: Center for Biological Diversity v. Town of Yucca Valley

On Friday, June 5, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2009-52, which provides guidance informing taxpayers how to elect to claim the Investment Tax Credit under IRC § 48 in lieu of the Production Tax Credit under IRC § 45 with respect to qualifying projects. This election was provided for as part of the American Recovery…

Minnesota politicians held a news conference yesterday on the state capitol mall to provide an overview of recent legislation relating to solar energy projects. Minnesota has allocated $14.5 million in stimulus money for renewable energy projects, with a portion flagged for solar projects to encourage the installation and use of solar-powered systems. Another piece of legislation gives…

Vermont has enacted into law legislation that establishes minimum rates to be paid by electric customers for certain renewable energy sources in long-term fixed-price contracts. 

Key elements of the bill include a project size cap of 2.2 MW, for a total program cap of 50 MW, a specified contract term of 20 years (except solar contracts, which will be…

Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment have announced $37 million US funding from the U.S. DOE through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for New Mexico’s State Energy Program, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. 

The initial Request for Application…

Renewable energy developers often use limited liability companies (LLCs) as project companies and to form entities for other purposes.  My partner Doug Batey has started a new law blog that will likely be helpful to those charged with setting up, understand and maintaining these LLCs.  Here’s today’s announcement: 

Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to introduce its new LLC…

The USDA announced today that it is accepting applications under the Rural Energy for America Program (“REAP”).  REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems.

REAP funds are available in the following amounts:

  • Grants for

…